Michael Poletika
Evaluation and Research Associate
Evaluation and Learning Research Center (ELRC)
Education Adminstration
Email:
mpoletik@purdue.edu
About
Mike is an experienced education policy and child welfare evaluator. He uses mixed methods to identify the effects of policies and programs on a wide range of student outcomes, as well as ways to improve the lives of children involved in child welfare systems. His research interests include STEM educational programs, the privatization of K-12 education, and policies affecting student financial aid and debt in higher education. Mike lives in Indianapolis with his wife, two dogs, and two cats, and enjoys sports, live music, and creative writing in his free time.
Education
- Indiana University – Bloomington, Master of Public Affairs, Concentration: Public Policy Analysis, 2012-2024
- Indiana University – Bloomington, Bachelor of Arts, Majors: Political Science, History, German, 2006-2011
Career Experience
- Kaye Implementation and Evaluation, Research Associate, 1/2024-7/2025
- Indianapolis Public Schools, Recruitment and Retention Analyst, 1/2023-12/2025
- AnLar, Programmer and Statistical Analyst, 5/2022-12/2022
- Indiana Department of Child Services, Research Analyst, 8/2019-9/2020
- Indiana Youth Institute, Data Program Manager, 3/2016-9/17
- Basis Policy Research, Research Associate, 6/2014-7/215
Research & Publications
Selected Publications
- Kaye, S., Reyes, L., Hood, S., Such, C., Amaro Gomez, I., and Poletika, M. (2025). Results from a Statewide Cluster Randomized Trial of the Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator (OhioKAN) Program: Outcomes at Three, Six, and Twelve Months. Kaye Implementation and Evaluation.
- Kearney, A.D., Wilson, E.S, Hollingshead, D.M., Poletika, M.A., Kestian, H.K., Stigdon, T.J., Miller, E.A., and Fluke, J.D. (2022). Child Welfare Triage: Use of Screening Threshold Analysis to Evaluate Intake Decision Making. Children and Youth Services Review, 144.
- Poletika, M. (2017). KIDS COUNT in Indiana 2017 Data Book: A Profile of Child Well-Being. Indianapolis, IN: Indiana Youth Institute.
- Bradley, A. and Poletika, M. (2017). Clearing the Jobs Pathway: Removing Non-Academic Barriers to Adult Student Completion. Indianapolis, IN: Indiana Institute for Working Families.